About

$257,870

pledged of $250,000 goal

973

backers

Kickstart Xeko into the Digital Realm!

Hello, Kickstarters! I'm on a MISSION to re-launch Xeko ("zeeko") the endangered animal trading card game (TCG) dedicated to the Earth's AWESOME and INCREDIBLE animals from conservation hotspots around the world. I created Xeko to celebrate nature, unite an incredible community around a shared mission, further biodiversity conservation, and HAVE FUN!

Originally a paper-based TCG (I had this crazy idea about people playing the game TOGETHER, IRL, before FB took over the world...) I'm relaunching the game for online, social, and mobile platforms with the help of some AMAZING friends from the game industry, SUPER FANS, and (hopefully) YOU.

Thanks for checking out the Xeko Kickstarter... If you likey, please give us some backer love and help spread the word!

YOUR MISSION: Join the adventure & become a Xeko Backer Agent!

Trade & Play In the Cloud and On the Go!

The new Xeko
will be for online, social networks and mobile platforms, making Xeko
more interactive, more viral, and more available to the entire
world—INCLUDING PLAYERS FROM THE VERY HOTSPOTS THAT THE ANIMALS CALL
HOME.

Originally created for younger players, we're aging Xeko up
to be on FaceBook, as well as to add geo-location and trading features
to the mobile game -- connecting Xeko Agents around the world.

Meticulous Attention to Detail & HUGE Head Start!

That's the Mission: Costa Rica Starter Set featured above. We spent an INSANE amount of time perfecting the game with attention to every detail -- from the Legend of Xeko backstory to species lists (all fact checked by scientist from Conservation International) to the artwork and animal super powers to hidden messages, puzzles, card designs and uber game balancing.

We released FOUR of 34 hotspot missions. That means there are AT LEAST
30 missions to go!!! That's a lot of ground (and water and air) to
cover. TIMES A-TICKIN' -- LET'S GO!!!

Based on the Legend of Xeko (Shhhhhh! A Secret Earth Knowledge Order -- become a backer and I will teach you the handshake...) starter sets are ACTUALLY MISSION BRIEFINGS. Xeko Agents in the field smuggle out new missions disguised as common export items. A coffee box from Indonesia, cigar box from Costa Rica, a magical dragon pagoda from the mountains of SW China. Get it???

Players are Xeko Agents on a mission to restore balance to the world and thwart the Dozers—ne’er-do-wells unwittingly destroying habitats and generally mucking things up.... Dozers will stop at NOTHING to disrupt Xeko's mission and TRY to steal Xeko's power and use the force of nature for their own nefarious ends. They nearly did us in back in 2010, but as Xeko Masters say, "Don't let the Dozers get you down!" and "Without clouds, a rainbow never shines, and you know what's at the end of the rainbow..." ONWARD!!!

Game Play is ADDITIVE, ADDICTIVE & Very Visual

Like dominoes, the game play is ADDITIVE and very visual. It's also very addictive. The core game mechanic is color matching -- players take turns linking cards to create a Xekosystem. This is an innovation for the TCG category that I'm really proud of, along with card rarity mapping to each species IUCN endangered species status. IMAGINE: An ever-growing, glorious, digital XekoSystem (zoom in/out a la Google Earth map-like) with thousands of cards contributed by players around the world. AWESOME!!!

The artwork, based on the style established by the insanely talented Michel Gagne, is STUNNING. The game design, perfected by ex-WOTC game designer, Tyler Bielman, is elegant to the Nth degree.

Why a Kickstarter?

Games are expensive to produce (think Blockbuster movie vs. Indie film) and we’ve taken this project as far as we can on our own. Now we need your help. We have gathered an A-team of people to help move us forward. To keep the team together, develop the digital interface and trading platform, finish the project and get it to market requires one final push. With your help, we can make Xeko: The digital TCG a reality!

More players means more fun! It also means more impact....

Xeko has always been about creating community and joining together to help the environment (and, not to mention, our own species). Xeko Agents connect to trade cards, swap strategy, play the game, and HAVE FUN DOING GOOD. While competition amongst Agents can be fierce, Xeko Agents are an honorable lot – upholding a strict honor code, mentoring and collaborating, and at the end of the day, united as part of a greater team Earth! GO TEAM EARTH!!!

Kickstarter not only helps provide game funding, it also
helps build an active and engaged player base, before the game is even launched. We’re not just looking for backers, we’re looking for Xeko Agents. (That would be YOU.)

Join the mission and become a Xeko Backer Agent today!

About Xeko®

Xeko is a collectible trading card game inspired by Magic: the Gathering® and Pokemon®. It is also a fantastic demonstration of the power of play to make a difference and generate action.

Invented by Amy Tucker, Xeko was originally published in 2006. Together with Sönny Spearman, they built a tremendous team in Seattle, including lead artist Michel Gagne, game designer, Tyler Bielman and art director, Bo Geddes.

The cards feature magnificent and exotic animals whose numbers are diminishing. Card rarity maps to each animal’s endangered species status in the real world. Other cards depict curious artifacts and special events that players use in their quest to create a balanced Xekosystem.

Four expansion sets of Xeko were launched based on different conservation “hotspots” in the world: Madagascar, Costa Rica, Indonesia and China. The cards in each set and the packaging were uniquely designed based on the Xeko Agent Mission themes. These beautiful, out-of-print collections are prized by collectors.

Xeko-Pals™, eco-friendly plush toys based on the most popular animals, were also released for each region. All are collectible, but one is particularly rare: Hairy the Lemur. Xeko HQ is actively searching for him and is reporting Hairy the Lemur sightings.

Your Mission

STRETCH GOALS!

We have heard from sooooooo many players of Xeko Island that we have finally decided to bring back the island, if we meet these stretch goals!

If we can get to $350,000, then we will bring back a new version of
the Virtual Endangered Animal adoption game. Players adopt an animal,
take care of it, and release it into the virtual wild. The animals will
be based on the beautiful animals from the Xeko TCG and the lost Xeko
Island.

If we can get to $475,000, then we will bring back the entire Island!
The technology needs updating, but so many players requested the
Island's return that we’re putting it out there: if we meet this goal,
we’ll bring back the lost Xeko Island.

A Message from Nolan Bushnell

Michael Williams, the founder of Oomba, and Nolan Bushnell, its advisor a.k.a. the "father of the video game industry", were instrumental in helping Amy Tucker recover Xeko. Here is a message from Nolan Bushnell about the project:

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

All of the above plus: a Virtual Endangered Animal for adoption [if we meet the $350,000 stretch goal]; and a beautiful digital copy of the Xeko Island Memories book. There are 50 endangered frog species in Haiti.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $257 or more
About $257

CHOOSE ONLY ONE $257 REWARD
All of the above plus: an Official Xeko Backer Hoodie (instead of the T-Shirt); and a real world, out-of-print Xeko Starter Set. There are 257 species on the Critical Endangered list that may have become Extinct.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $257 or more
About $257

CHOOSE ONLY ONE $257 REWARD
All of the above plus: an Official Xeko Backer Hoodie (instead of the T-Shirt); and a collectible Xeko Plush Animal. There are 257 species on the Critical Endangered list that may have become Extinct.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $607 or more
About $607

All of the above plus: a Xeko Fathead; a limited edition 18"x24" offset lithograph of a Xeko image; and you become an Animal Ambassador. Pick an animal to protect and your name (or Agent ID) will be listed on the animal's digital card. Animal selection order is based on your pledge date. (We will publish the choices on Xeko.com.) There are 607 threatened mammal species in India.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,192 or more
About $1,192

All of the above plus: an Official Xeko Backer Fleece (instead of the Hoodie); an 18"x24" archival quality Giclée print of a Xeko card signed by Amy Tucker & Michel Gagne; and an invitation to the official launch party in Boston. (You are responsible for your own travel.) There are 1,192 species threatened in the United States.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $3,246 or more
About $3,246

All of the above plus: a complete set of the Xeko 1st Edition virtual cards; and you become a Territory Manager. Pick an area to protect and your name (or Agent ID) will be listed on maps of that region. Region selection order is based on your pledge date. (We will publish the choices on Xeko.com) There are 3,246 species that are Critically Endangered.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,966 or more
About $5,966

All of the above plus: you (or someone you designate) can become a character in the Xeko game. If our star is willing, we will use his or her image as a character in the Xeko game. It's their chance to be discovered! There are 5,966 vertebrate animal species that are threatened with extinction.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $10,000
About $10,000

All of the above plus an Official Xeko Backer Jacket (instead of the Fleece) and credit as an Executive Producer. The five most generous backers will be invited to a private dinner with Amy Tucker and Nolan Bushnell. (Time and place will be mutually agreed upon; travel is your responsibility; the current top five will be listed on Xeko.com) There are less than 10,000 cheetahs left in the world.